Naju City: "Easing the Burden on Pear Farmers"... 3,000 Tons of Low-Grade Pears for Processing to Be Removed from Market

Support for the Purchase of Irregularly Shaped Pears Untreated with Gibberellin

Abnormal low temperatures and hail are estimated to have caused about 5 billion won in damage to 1,412 pear-growing farms in Naju this year. Naju City announced on the 14th that it would support the market removal of 3,000 tons of low-grade Naju pears for processing to ease the financial burden on growers and regulate supply and demand.

Naju City is launching a market isolation support program for 3,000 tons of low-grade pears intended for processing. The photo shows a pear farm that was damaged by hail in April. Photo provided by Naju City.

This year, pear damage in the Naju area affected 1,405 hectares, with the average damage rate among farms recorded at 37%. In addition to abnormal low temperatures, sunscald, high temperatures and dry conditions, and rainfall have combined to increase the number of pears that are undersized or irregularly shaped, as well as those with fine cracks. The city will support the purchase and processing of these pears to prevent them from entering regular distribution channels.

The city will allocate 300 million won from its reserve funds to provide a flat subsidy of 2,000 won per 20-kilogram box of pears purchased. The 3,000 tons amount to approximately 150,000 boxes when converted into 20-kilogram units. Eligible pears are irregularly shaped fruit that has not been treated with gibberellin.

The Naju City Nonghyup Joint Business Corporation will oversee the program together with the Pear Horticultural Agricultural Cooperative and local agricultural cooperatives. After growers deliver their pears, the local agricultural cooperative or Agricultural Products Processing Center (APC) will check their condition and weight before purchasing them. The pears will then be used for the corporation's own export and processing operations or sold first to export and processing companies in the Naju area, keeping them separate from regular market supply.

Naju Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, "This measure is intended to ease the financial burden on farms affected by weather damage and protect the quality and brand value of Naju pears."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.